| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Training of Trainers
named “Human Rights Protection of Migrants" on 14-16
May 2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
On
14-16 May 2013, IOM (International Organization for
Migration) Mission in Azerbaijan organized a
Training of Trainers named “Human Rights Protection
of Migrants”, targeting officials who are working in
the field of migration management and protection of
human rights. Its main objective was to refresh
participants’ knowledge about the European system
for the protection of human rights and
non-discrimination principles to successfully
perform as future trainers.
This ToT was organized within the framework of the
project “Establishing Effective Mechanisms
Safeguarding the Rights of Persons Involved in
Migration in Azerbaijan” which is funded by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway
and seeks to support the development and
strengthening of legal, regulatory, policy and
institutional frameworks to enhance the upholding of
the rights and freedoms of persons involved in
migration in Azerbaijan.
This Training was jointly implemented by IOM,
Academy of Public Administration under the President
of the Republic of Azerbaijan and State Migration
Service of Government of Azerbaijan.
The Training started with a lecture delivered by Mr.
Urkhan Alakbarov, Rector of the Academy of Public
Administration on the “Human Development and
Migration Processes”. Mr. Namig Jafarov from the
State Migration Service also conveyed comprehensive
information about the “State Migration Policy of the
Republic of Azerbaijan”.
The plenary sessions of the Training were carried
out by the national and international experts of the
project, Mr. Sahib Mammadov and Ms. Ivana Roagna.
The sessions were designed to reinforce
participants’
understanding of the integration of the European
Convention on Human Rights in the domestic legal
system by familiarizing themselves with the national
provisions and procedures available at national and
international level to redress instances
of discrimination
and have understood how to activate those remedies
appropriately, through facilitated practical
exercises and moot court.
At the end of the Training, participants also
learned about basic principles to train adult
professionals through various discussions on
different training techniques in order to be able to
identify the most appropriate one for the training
they are expected to conduct in the future.
A total of 22 participants were presented with
certificates upon the successful completion of the
Training. More than 85% of the participants who
completed and evaluated the Training concluded that
the ToT met their expectations and were
satisfactory.
The officials who were trained as trainers will have
the opportunity to apply their newly acquired
professional knowledge and adult training skills
while training a total of 100 fellow officials in
Baku and other regional hubs within the framework of
the current project.
The Training curriculum will be institutionalized
within the Academy of Public Administration as one
of regular courses. |
|
|
|
|
|
LAUNCH CEREMONY
OF “SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EFFECTIVE
READMISSION MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH CAUCASUS” PROJECT |
|
|
The International Organization for Migration (IOM)
held a launch ceremony of the project “Supporting
the establishment of effective readmission
management in South Caucasus” funded by the European
Union on 4 April, 2013 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The event was attended by almost 55 participants
representing relevant Government agencies including
the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministry of Labour and
Social Protection of the Population Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, State Migration Service, State
Border Service, etc, Embassies of EU MS,
international organizations, civil society
organizations and mass media. The news of the
project launch event was widely covered in the
national media.
During the Launch Ceremony, speeches were delivered
by the Officer in Charge of IOM Azerbaijan, Mr.
Serhan Aktoprak, EU Ambassador/Head of Delegation,
H.E. Mr. Roland Kobia and the Deputy Head of the
State Migration Service, Mr. Parviz Musayev. After
presenting the project questions and answers’
session followed.
The project is implemented by IOM in three South
Caucasus countries and seeks to achieve its
objective by providing technical assistance to the
Governments to facilitate the conclusion and the
further implementation of readmission agreements and
supporting the sustainable reintegration of
returnees in their communities of origin.
This action envisages three specific objectives in
Azerbaijan -
-
To assist in establishing effective case
management systems of readmission;
-
To build capacity in Azerbaijan for the
management of migrant accommodation centers;
-
To assist in building effective institutional
mechanisms for reintegration of returned
migrants;
|
|
|
|
|
|
Winter for Youth
organized in the framework of the project
Solidifying Awareness on Trafficking in Persons in
Azerbaijan through Education |
|
|
The
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
together with implementing partners - Azerbaijan
Children Union and "Educated Society" Support to
Modern Education Public Union organized a winter
camp for youth in Guba during 11-15 February 2013 in
the framework of the project “Solidifying Awareness
on Trafficking in Persons in Azerbaijan through
Education” funded by the Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation.
Twenty (20) students aged between 18-25 studying at
the Baku State University, Azerbaijan State
Pedagogical University, Azerbaijan University of
Languages, Azerbaijan State Management Academy under
the President, Azerbaijan Cooperation University,
Azerbaijan Public Policy University, Azerbaijan
Medical University, Azerbaijan University,
Azerbaijan State Economic University, Azerbaijan
State Oil Academy, Qafgaz University were trained on
topics “What is trafficking in persons?”,
“Prevention of trafficking in persons”, “Safe
migration”, “Peer-to-Peer education”, etc. during
the winter camp. It shoud worth mentioning that the
participants act as volunteers, social workers and
active members of different local NGOs and youth
organizations. |
|
|
UNDPI
expert as a guest participant delivered a
presentation about UN activities in Azerbaijan.
The interactive methods such as brainstorming, work
in large and small groups were used, presentations
delivered and an educational movie demonstrated
during the training sessions.The participants will
further disseminate information on trafficking
prevention and safe migration among their peers in
their own communities, educational institutions in
interaction with their teachers and other students.
Intellectual games, energizers and other
recreational activities have been organized for the
winter camp participants.
During the entire winter camp, apart from trainings,
leasure time of the participants were also
organized. The excursion was organized to the Guba
common burial cemetery located in Guba city.
The participants have been awarded with certificates
upon completion of the camp.
The above-mentioned activities were organized in the
framework of the third phase of the project. |
 |
|
|
One of the components of
the project is to stimulate information exchange
among youngsters. In this context, IOM focuses on
awareness through transferring knowledge about
prevention of trafficking in persons and safe
migration to the youth and building their skills to
act as trainers towards their peers. It should be
mentioned that two relevant summer camps for
teenagers and youth was organized during 2011-2012. |
|
|
|
|
|
Closing
Ceremony of Kahriz Rehabilitation Project on January
29, 2013 |
|
|
International
Organization for Migration (IOM) and Korean
Government representatives assembled on 29th January
2013 to celebrate the successful completion of the
“Kahriz Rehabilitation Project” funded by Korean
International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and
implemented by IOM in six rural regions of
Azerbaijan. Officials from the Government of
Azerbaijan, representatives from Shamkir, Sheki and
Naftalan districts, embassies in Baku, and UN and
other international organizations participated in
the ceremony.
Mr. Serhan Aktoprak, Officer-in-charge in the IOM
Mission in Azerbaijan opened the event appreciating
the support of the KOICA and explained the project
aim, activities carried out and results achieved. He
also addressed the importance of the project in
contributing to the livelihoods improvement of the
beneficiary population in the rural regions of
Azerbaijan, as well as willingness to continue the
cooperation with the KOICA. |
|
|
 |
|
|
First Secretary of the
Korean embassy to Azerbaijan, Mr. Won-Sik LEE,
emphasized the significance of the support by the
Korean Government for the sustainable development of
Azerbaijan, especially for the vulnerable
population, as well as the role of the embassy in
strengthening the ties between the two countries.
Head of the Department for Refugees, IDPs, Migration
and Work with International Organizations, Cabinet
of Ministers, Mr. Gurban Sadigov spoke of the
development of the Korea-Azerbaijan relations and
highly appreciated the support and cooperation of
the Korean government in Azerbaijan. Mr. Sadigov
praised the works and projects of IOM in Azerbaijan,
with a special emphasis given to the importance of
the kahriz rehabilitation works aimed at bringing
life, hope and opportunity to the rural communities
through water provision.
In the plenary session, the Kahriz Rehabilitation
Project team of IOM, namely the Project Manager Mr.
Ashraf Mirzazade and the Project Engineer Mr. Revan
Mehdiyev briefed about the overall project concept,
kahrizes in Azerbaijan and how the system works. It
was followed by experience sharing by leaders of the
Water Users Committees from the Shamkir and Sheki
districts, and representatives of the Naftalan and
Shamkir ExComs. They particularly appreciated the
joint support of IOM and KOICA in bringing water to
their communities which has enabled them to improve
the living conditions and agricultural activities.
At the end of the ceremony, the project documentary
“Feeling the Pulse of Water” was screened
demonstrating the kahriz rehabilitation process,
improved livelihoods in the beneficiary communities
and IOM’s successful project management throughout
the implementation period. At the beginning and end
of the documentary, the Resident Representative of
the KOICA office in Azerbaijan, Ms. Eun-sook KIM
reiterated the implication and importance of the
Kahriz Rehabilitation Project in Azerbaijan in line
with the needs of the beneficiary population and
KOICA’s assistance strategies, as well as the
cooperation with IOM which possesses
well-established networks and expertise not only at
the national level but also globally.
Since still many other rural communities are
expressing the needs of the kahriz rehabilitation
for enhanced access to water, IOM intends to
continue implementing kahriz rehabilitation projects
with support from the Government of Korea and other
donors to further contribute to livelihoods of rural
communities in Azerbaijan.
About the
project
“Kahriz Rehabilitation Project” was funded by KOICA
and implemented by IOM in rural regions of
Azerbaijan. The 30-month long project with the total
budget of 1,200,000 USD is one of many supported by
the Korean Government in Azerbaijan.
The aim of the project was to contribute to reducing
the forced economic migration from rural communities
in Azerbaijan by enhancing access to water source,
as a means to increase agricultural productivity and
improve livelihoods through rehabilitating kahrizes
and provision of water distribution infrastructures. |
|
|
 |
|
|
The
very first introduction of the kahriz concept to
KOICA occurred at an international conference held
by IOM in September 2009 in Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic. Mr. Kim Yong Woo, the Resident
Representative of KOICA then, was presented with
detailed information about the kahriz systems and
its positive impacts in supporting the livelihoods
of beneficiary communities. In July 2010 the
agreement between IOM and KOICA was signed to start
the implementation of the “Kahriz Rehabilitation
Project”.
Since then, the results achieved during the project
implementation period are notable. As of the
completion of the project in January 2013, 20
kahrizes in Goygol, Goranboy, Lerik, Naftalan,
Shemkir and Sheki districts have been fully
rehabilitated with extended water distribution
infrastructures. Average water discharge has
increased by five times compared to before the
rehabilitation. More than 6, 000 households now
enjoy enhanced access to potable and irrigation
water supply. More than 3,500 ha of land is
irrigated with water from these rehabilitated
kahrizes.
People in the communities not only enjoy the
improved access to the water, but also have
strengthened their capacities in the renovation and
maintenance of the kahrizes by actively
participating in various community meetings,
trainings and facilitated workshops. Twenty Water
User Committees (WUC) were established for each of
the selected kahrizes to enhance ownership of the
project, communal consensus and sustainability of
the project impacts. Concerns and interests of women
in the kahriz rehabilitation and water utilization
were highly respected by ensuring average 40 percent
representation of the female population. Nearly 100
professional kahriz renovation workers (kankans)
have been working for the kahriz renovation
throughout the project duration with enhanced
knowledge and skills gained through capacity
building trainings.
All these positive changes were directly witnessed
by the KOICA resident representatives in Azerbaijan
during a visit paid to the kahriz renovation sites
in Sheki and Naftalan in May 2012. Beneficiary
communities explained how living conditions had
improved thanks to the enhanced access to water and
expressed gratitude for the Korean government’s
generous support. The Head of the Naftalan Executive
Power also very much appreciated the KOICA and IOM’s
direct support to the population during a meeting
with the KOICA Resident Representative Ms. Eun Suk
Kim. Possible areas for continued future cooperation
were discussed as well.
The project was also an interest for the wider
public, nationally and internationally, beyond the
geographical scope of the target communities. It was
publicized through national TV channels, newspapers,
Wikipedia and documentary films. UNDPI (UN
Department of Public Information) also featured a
story about the project impacts in rural communities
of Sheki and Shemkir districts. It is worth to note
that in 2012, the project was nominated for and
awarded as the National Energy Globe Award for
Azerbaijan. In addition, later that year, out of
1,175 projects submitted around the world, it was
selected as one of the four best projects and
nominated for the INTERNATIONAL ENERGY GLOBE AWARD
under the category of “Water”.
Some out of many good examples described here could
help demonstrate the project impacts more vividly:
- In Shirinbulag community of Sheki district, which
has the population of 200 households, previously
there was no reliable water source at all. People
had to use their modest financial capacity to buy
water, which then was kept for weeks in basins. This
led to deterioration of the water quality causing
health problems, especially amongst children. After
the rehabilitation of kahriz, now, the population
enjoys access to potable water throughout the day.
- In Naftalan town, where the rehabilitated
kahrizes serve as the main source of water, the
population is now provided with uninterrupted water
supply for domestic use. In addition, thanks to
availability of water, even the central park of the
town is irrigated with the kahriz water.
- Rehabilitated kahrizes in Irmashli village of
Shemkir district allow irrigation of more than 360
ha of lands for growing crops, which will serve as
an opportunity to improve the livelihood of
population. |
|
|
|
|
|
News archive
|
|
|
|
